On The Market

The biggest announcement of last week’s Fed meeting had nothing to do with ⁠rate cuts⁠. Instead, a quiet, mostly overlooked statement from ⁠the Federal Reserve⁠ could mean huge things for the economy, ⁠mortgage rates⁠, and most importantly, the housing market. The mainstream seems to have missed it, focusing on the obvious news, but we’re breaking down the Fed’s new emergency tactic to stabilize the economy. What many thought would be a standard 0.25% rate-cut meeting was anything but. A fractured Fed, now split on rate cuts more than in prior years, has adopted a new tactic. Could this strategy be a return to a dangerous past—the days of “quantitative easing” (AKA money printing)? Or, does the Fed know what it’s doing, taking a more cautious approach than last time? We’ll break down the entire Fed story and share some crucial updates on housing inventory and ⁠affordability⁠. Some markets are entering 2026 strong, with significantly lower inventory than pre-pandemic levels. Others could correct (or even crash) harder. Dave gives his opinion on which are which, sharing the markets that will thrive and the ones where home prices could dive. 

This might be the easiest time to ⁠find real estate deals⁠ in years—and early signs suggest 2026 could be even better. The year is almost over, so today, we’re reviewing our favorite trends, tactics, and ⁠real estate investing strategies⁠ of 2025. Plus, many of them will last well into 2026. These are the things that we’re focusing on next year, and there’s a lot of good news for investors. This is shaping up to be one of the easiest times in years to find profitable real estate deals. But we’re not just talking rentals—we share a “mailbox money” investment that’s still holding strong in 2025 (and could in 2026). Plus, Dave details a “slow” strategy that builds wealth with way less stress—one that both he and James are going all-in on. Tired of sharing your profits with the tax man? A massive ⁠tax benefit⁠ that returned this year will last into 2026, and Kathy is ready to take full advantage of it.

We’re only a week away from winter, but the housing market is heating back up. Demand is rising as savvy buyers know that ⁠lower prices⁠ peak during the holiday season. But one crucial cohort is nowhere to be found…and it could have damaging consequences for the housing market as a whole. We’re back with another headline episode, taking the biggest stories from the housing market and giving our takes so you can make the best investing decision possible. This winter is feeling warmer for housing as demand does what no one expects—increases during the seasonally slow period of the year. What’s causing it—lower rates, FOMO, or something else entirely? Remember when people in their 20s used to buy houses? Well…not anymore. The new ⁠first-time homebuyer age⁠ reached a worrying new high, one that many of us couldn’t even believe. ⁠DSCR loan⁠ defaults are starting to tick up, doubling from this time last year. Is this a bigger deal than many think, and could it bring discounted investment properties to the table?  Finally, Dave shares a sneak peek at BiggerPockets’ newest investor survey, where investors share what they think is coming in 2026…and there’s a lot to be excited about.

Redfin just called it. The housing market will “reset” in 2026…or at least it’ll be the start of it. Chen Zhao, head of economics research and a returning guest on the show, has ⁠11 predictions⁠ she and her team have formulated for the 2026 housing market. A long, slow period of progress could be upon us, as buyers get what they’ve been asking for: better ⁠affordability⁠, a more normal market, and the chance to own where there’s work.  But what does this really mean? Will ⁠mortgage rates⁠ fall? Will home prices drop? We’re going through each of the 11 predictions with Chen, discussing prices, rates, rents, refinances, transaction volume, and even how AI could become the “matchmaker” for Americans looking for their first or next property.  Make no mistake, this is good news for many, and could be just the start of a cycle that finally puts average Americans in the position to purchase a home. But, for real estate investors and landlords, there could be another big benefit coming in 2026, one that has a direct impact on your ⁠cash flow⁠. 

Stock prices are up, home prices are high, gold, silver, and ⁠bitcoin⁠ have all had major bull runs. But the average American is broke. This is the “K-shaped” economy.  If you feel like it’s harder to get by and the barrier to entry to invest is rising, you’re not going crazy. We’re in a new economy—a “K-shaped” economy—where those who own assets see their net worth soar as the ⁠middle class⁠ and average Americans watch their bank accounts shrink. This is not the place Americans want to be in right now, and the delicate balance that holds up our entire economy could fall apart sooner than we think. Dave explains what a K-shaped economy is, how it could bleed into the housing market, and whether this feast-or-famine system can survive much longer. Plus, he’ll share a shocking statistic that shows just how hard things are for ordinary Americans, and how a ⁠tiny minority is holding up the entire economy⁠.